Congress 'dead serious' about fighting graft, says Rahul

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the party is "dead serious" about fighting corruption and all Congress-ruled states will enact new Lokayukta legislations by February 28.

"I hear a lot of talk about corruption, but there is no systematic action. Let's stop talking, let's start acting," Rahul told reporters after meeting with the chief ministers from Congress-ruled states.

After the Congress' disastrous showing in the assembly elections in four states recently, Rahul has been stridently talking about fighting corruption, especially after poll observers have said the party's chances of a return to power at the Centre look bleak in the wake of a series of corruption scandals during its second stint.

The Congress vice-president was the party's face behind the aggressive push for Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill in Rajya Sabha and his partymen hailed him for the passage of the legislation that was stuck for the past several decades.

He said the Lokpal Act alone won't defeat corruption and a proper framework requires to be put in place for which a number of legislations were needed.

Attacking BJP for blocking the passage of these legislations, he said, "These days, we hear big talk about fighting corruption... We hear again and again and again and again about corruption, but there is no action," Gandhi said.

"If they (opposition) are serious, let's stop talking and start acting. We are dead serious (on fighting corruption)." The Congress vice-president said "whenever we talk about creating a framework, there is complete silence on the other (opposition) side".

"I don't hear 'let's pass these bills,'" he said, while emphasising the country will hugely benefit if a proper framework to fight corruption is put in place.